Sunday 16 March 2008

Sorry I haven't written all week!

Where does the time go?!

Paris was brilliant. We got the 6am train from Limoges and I got a nice surprise, I had forgotten that OH had booked 1st class seats on the way up. No we haven't won the lottery, they were the same price a regular seats. We had made our sandwiches the night before and had packed our little rucksacks for the day trip. We had yummy sarnies, I couldn't wait to get tucked into them. OH had decided to splash out on nice stuff for sandwiches and what a brill idea it was. I had smoked salmon and boursin, goats cheese and red onion marmalade and goats cheese and tomato. They were so delicious in nice, crusty bagettes.

I slept alot of the way on the train, but around Issoudun I was awake and looking out of the window. Just after the station there was a little stream with loads of allotments around it. It was so beautifully laid out, earth all turned and ready for planting, nice straight rows of cabbages and nice little garden sheds. There were even brick built garden sheds, with tiled roofs, chimneys, windows and shutters - a real home from home.

Paris was as beautiful as I remembered. The only downside was that it was raining quite heavily, and very windy. We went to the top of the Eiffel Tower where even though the wind was incredible, so were the views. We sat and had some more sarnies at the top of the tower.

Next stop was Monmartre and the Sacre Coeur. Had it been a sunny day, walking around the cobbled streets with all the nic-nac shops would have been lovely. I thought that more shops would have been open even with it being a Sunday. We saw signs for the cathedral and also signs for a 'funicular', which to me sounded like something to do with funerals, so we didn't go that way. Oh what a mistake that was! We also took a wrong turn an ended up in the red light district and saw the big windmill of the Moulin Rouge. Anway, we ended up at the bottom of the cathedral, with about 20 squillion to climb!!! OH loves looking around churches (I don't!) so in the pouring rain we climbed to the top. I thought that at least if we go in the cathedral I can sit down for a bit! We also found out what a funicular is - it's a flipping cable-car/monorail type things that takes you to the top so you don't need to climb 20 flippin' squillion flippin' steps in the flippin' rain!!!!!!!!!!

Next onto the Stade de France, a truly spectacular stadium, with everything brilliantly organised. We had great seats - high up and on the halfway line. The rain had stopped, the game was fantastic and It was great to be back at a rugby match again. France won the match so we were happy bunnies.

After that even went really smoothly, with 79,000 people heading the train station there was no shoving and pushing. We got on the train easily and arrived at Gare d'Austerlitz an hour early for our train. We had allowed plenty of time to cross Paris, but we were way ahead of schedule. Train stations are great for people watching. There was a party of teenagers walking around and the boys looked hilarious. They all wore their jeans with the crotch down by their knees, they were waddling around like penguins!!! Now, I am not so old that I dont own low-slung trousers myself, or recognise fashions, but these were normal jeans, meant to be worn around the waist, but the back pockets were hanging around their thighs. They looked so funny!!

All in all it was a great day away, such an easy journey to make. We will definitely do it again in the summer.

16 comments:

softinthehead said...

Welcome back - sounds like a perfect trip.

dND said...

Sounds like you had a really great trip. How long was the train journey and did you go TGV?

aims said...

Wow! Wow! Wow!

Sounds absolutely fantastic! I'm jealous - I admit it! (pout)

Wooly Works said...

Ah, to live the international lifestyle of the rich and famous! Paris is like a dream to me. It sound like you had a terrific time and I wish I had been there!!

Breezy said...

Sounds great except for all the cheese!

Mean Mom said...

Those were posh sarnies! Sounds like a great day and you certainly packed a lot into it.

It's surprising the little facts you pick up from the blogging community. Today, amongst other things, I've found out what a 'funicular' is.

Hi, hope you remember me. I dropped by a few days ago, but left my comment on the cat joke post. Maybe you haven't seen it. Glad to see that you are still blogging. I am out of hibernation and glad to be back!

A Mother's Place is in the Wrong said...

What a lovely trip to Paris - and great sarnies. They made my mouth water. M :)

Debra in France said...

Hi SITH, thank you.

Hi dnd, the journey was 3hrs 10mins. We didn't do TGV as I am not sure if it is running from Limoges yet.

Hi aims, It was a great trip.

Hi Wooly, I think anywhere in a different country sounds exotic. Paris is a very pretty city.

Hi Breezy, Ah, the cheese was wonderful!!!

Hi Mean Mom, great to have you back, you have been missed.

Hi Mothers place, I loved those sarnies!! I quite fancy one now!

Maggie May said...

Glad you had a great trip!

Georgina said...

We did Paris last Spring by TGV, it was brilliant. It's a shame the weather was bad though coz the views from Sacre Coeur are amazing. We walked for miles and collapsed in bed by 7pm. Can't wait to go again.

menopausaloldbag (MOB) said...

I love Paris too. The Sacre couer is the most amazing place. Glad you had a great time. Loved your blog about the cats.

Clare said...

Oooh Paris - I love Paris. My firend and I normally go for long weekends a couple times a year! In fact I am jealous just reading.
The sarnie's sound PERFECT - great start to what sounds like also a perfect trip

softinthehead said...

Debra - where are you - come back soon - I'll keep checking in on you. Hope you had a Happy Easter

farming-frenchstyle said...

I hate you (not). Even if we had time we'd have struggled with the tickets! My OH also loves churches etc. When we retire we will do (rugby and cricket)things. Keep living my life.

softinthehead said...

It must be those Dinner Ladies, become complacent to all that coddling from you and now gone walkabout??! What other reason for not blogging?? Come back soon!

Wooly Works said...

Debra, are you still there? Haven't heard from you in the longest time. Hope everything is OK.